The other day, a member of Wright’s Gym asked me what I’d do at the trade deadline. A million dollar (or more) question if there ever was one.
I mentioned in a recap last week that I really like our team, and I do. Whether it was assembled accidentally on purpose by POHO/GM Kyle Dubas or not, the end result is the same. He’s constructed a club that pretty much has all the elements you need: size, speed, spirit and skill.
In a word, balanced.
Although not an overly physical team by fighting/hitting standards, we’re “hockey tough.” Virtually everyone on the roster, including the stars, sticks his nose in and competes. Our gritty fourth line of Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte, a prime example.
A far cry from the last few seasons of the Mike Sullivan era, when the Pens were about as bland and Milquetoast-ish as it gets. In fact, now that Dubas isn’t trying to appease Sully in terms of personnel choices, I think his true colors are emerging. Hence, he’s adding sizeable guys who can play like Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha and scrappers like Dewar and Connor Clifton.
This team possesses a tensile strength that we’ve lacked far too long.
But I digress.
So what do we do at the trade deadline? Do we look to move pending UFAs like Mantha, Brett Kulak and Stuart Skinner, or maybe even Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell?
Obviously much depends on where we are, standings-wise. If we’re in the playoff hunt, Dubas might take a minimalist approach in terms of moves. If not, he might be more inclined to sell.
Of course, there’s a train of thought that says we need to open up roster spots for kids like Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen (both recently assigned to the Baby Pens), not to mention Tristan Broz and Avery Hayes, but hold the phone. Just having promising kids in the organization doesn’t guarantee they’ll be successful. A point driven home by the early struggles of McGroarty and Koivunen, considered two of our blue-chippers.
Maybe they’ll eventually pan out. However, based on early returns, I suspect McGroarty will top out in a middle-six (and most likely) third-line role. Frankly, I’m not sure if Koivunen will ever produce the way he has at other levels. Nor is he necessarily cut out for bottom-six duty. For Ville, it’s likely top-six or bust.
Obviously, the jury’s still out on Broz and Hayes. I don’t know if either projects to be a 20-goal-guy in the NHL.
Nor is the grass especially greener among our blue-line prospects. Given his skating and skill level, Harrison Brunicke will hopefully emerge as a solid NHLer. Perhaps even a star. However, arguably our second-best defense prospect, Owen Pickering, virtually melted under the glare of the big-league spotlight in an earlier trial.
There are whispers that the former first-round pick isn’t all that highly regarded by those inside the organization. Judging by the way Dubas keeps swinging trades for defensive depth, particularly on the portside, that would seem to be the case.
Aside from Ben Kindel, who’s understandably experiencing growing pains, the “kid” (I used that term loosely) I like the most is Filip Hållander. Maybe he’ll never be the most productive of the bunch, but Filip seems capable of slotting up-and-down the lineup and filling any role at least reasonably well.
Our young goalies, Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist, both flash promise. If I were to move anyone at the deadline, it would probably be one of our current goalies, Skinner or Arturs Silovs. You’d likely get more for the former; I’d prefer to move the latter. The better to ease one of the kids into the rotation.
If you get a decent pick for him, we could perhaps move Mantha as well, although I’m not too anxious to part with him. Love his size and the way he’s performed for us, not to mention his early chemistry with Evgeni Malkin and Brazeau.
To borrow from the Tool song, Schism, right now “the pieces fit.”
Farewell Puusti
Speaking of the those trades for defensive help, Dubas swung one yesterday, dealing long-time Baby Pen (and sometimes Pen) Valtteri Puustinen and a seventh-round pick to the Avalanche for left-side defenseman Ilya Solovyov.
I confess to knowing nothing about our new acquisition aside from what I can glean from Hockey Reference. For starters, the 25-year-old Belarus native has some size (6’3″ 208) and is a left shot. With 45 hits in 31 career NHL games, Solovyov would appear to have at least a hint of physicality in his game. His underlying numbers, at least this season, were very good, although that could be a reflection of the team.
The fact that he was good enough to play 16 games (with three points) for a juggernaut Avs squad is encouraging. The fact that he was available, maybe not.
As for Puustinen? A good little soldier in my book who led the Baby Pens in scoring two seasons running (2021-23). With 24 points (7+17) in 66 games spread over three seasons, Puusti certainly didn’t do badly for the Pens. Just not enough to secure full-time NHL duty.
I wish him luck!
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I am ok trading mantha, only because he's a UFA this summer. But we will be in a playoff spot, so I would not trade 17, 67.
I don't want to trade skinner either. I quite like him and how he plays. If we get to the second round of the playoffs, I would like him back.
Chinakov has been a revelation. Think he is what koivenen needs to be. I would trade silovs if anyone wants him. And we could use defensive players, although we kinda seem ok for now.
Super fun team!